'I don't have regrets' - France's Zidane faces Italy without regrets over 2006 WC headbutt

Zidane was sent off in extra time after clashing with Italy defender Marco Materazzi in Berlin. Italy went on to win the final on penalties.

The incident remains one of the defining moments of Zidane's career, but the 54-year-old insists he prefers to remember the many positive moments from his time as a player.

"The images will always be there to remind me of what happened in 2006, because they are always being shown," Zidane said at his press conference.

"Fortunately that is not the only thing I did and there were other nicer things, so I try to think more about the positives.

"I don't have regrets because it was part of my career. I am not proud of what happened. I have said it over and over again, but it is part of my career - you can't only do wonderful things."

Zidane has not spoken to Materazzi since that night in Berlin, while he admitted that he had not expected to become a coach when his playing career ended.

"In 2006 I didn't know I was going to become a coach. I thought that was the end so it was really difficult for me," he said.

Zidane was appointed France coach in July after Didier Deschamps stepped down following 14 years in charge.

His reign has started with narrow 1-0 victories away to Turkey and Belgium in the Nations League.

The Italy match will be his first game in charge at the Stade de France, where almost 80,000 supporters are expected.

"It is going to be really emotional," Zidane said.

France will be without captain Kylian Mbappe after the Real Madrid forward injured his knee while scoring the winning goal against Turkey.

Ousmane Dembele has also played down suggestions of tension between himself and Mbappe following comments about the Ballon d'Or.

Dembele, who won the award last year, said the issue had been exaggerated on social media.

"There is no issue. We have talked about it. We sit next to each other at the dinner table," Dembele said.

"It was a social media squabble."

France face Italy at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Friday in their latest Nations League match.